ROCKFORD — Bruce Rauner, the Republican candidate for governor of Illinois, says Winnebago County GOP Chairman Jim Thompson should resign from his post after making a racially insensitive “joke” about President Barack Obama in the county party’s newsletter.

“Bruce believes the comments in the newsletter were wholly inappropriate and don’t have a place in the Republican Party. It would be best if he resigned,” said Mike Schrimpf, Rauner spokesman.

State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford, confirmed that Rauner called him Friday afternoon and said it would be best for the party if Thompson stepped down. Syverson has been one of Thompson’s supporters, saying he should stay in his position because he apologized for the “joke.”

“He’s not racist and he apologized and if somebody took it the wrong way, he apologized and that’s all he can do,” said Syverson.

“Now it’s up to him to decide what’s best for him, the party and the state,” Syverson said.

Here’s what Thompson wrote at the close of the party’s most recent newsletter:

“Media update for the week: saw on the news this week the offspring of a donkey and a zebra, black and white legs, rest all donkey. Not sure why this is news. Now if we can teach him to read a teleprompter, we could have two living creatures the media will fawn over that is part white, part black and all a**!

Thompson apologized to people his remarks may have offended, and for including the “joke” in the newsletter.